Succulents

   MY OTHER LOVES ARE......

SUCCULENTS:

Yes I know, I know, you can't eat them but my goodness they are just adorable and there are so many different kinds!

They are also super easy to grow and u can poke them in just about anywhere and they will grow.

My Aunty in New Zealand has an amazing array of them and I am lucky enough to be able to go around to her house and she gives me what ever I desire for our garden in Taylor's Mistake.

They are perfect for Taylor's as there are lots of rock walls and banks that I can poke them in and they add more colour and character to the place in addition to the edible garden and the Natives.

Here are some photos of our Taylor's Mistake succulent collection so far....and I say so far because I am always finding more that I don't have and adding to the garden.

An old watering can i have planted into

Poked into cracks in the rocks

Some of my favourite succulents

Like a beaded necklace!! But growing!!

Pot stacked with succulents

Another of my favourite 'Jelly bean' succulents in flower

Ox tongue

Adding colour where u wouldn't get other plants to grow

They come in all shapes sizes and colours

They are super easy to transplant around the garden as they grow bigger

Simple but stunning

Added colour in those dry hard to grow spots...

Most have stunning  flowers that will bloom for a long time

Had to thin these guys out this trip they had taken over this planter box now they are in flower...pretty!!

 Succulents are easy to grow in not much soil at all so have a go and plant some in some random places that you have trouble growing anything else

Happy planting!!!

How to grow Goji berries

The latest plant to go into our New Zealand garden at Taylor's Mistake is a Goji berry. I had never seen them in a nursery before and got quite excited when I found them, Dad had no choice but to put one in the trolley along with some good quality organic potting mix, some compost, a large bag of mulch and a self watering pot. (He had earlier that day said he needed a plant and a pot on the new side deck, of course for my thoughts went straight to something that was edible and of course was delighted when i found the Goji berry!!!)

Ripe Goji berries

GOJI BERRY

(LYCIUM BARBARIUM)

The Goji berry or Wolf berry as it is sometimes known is a common name for the fruit of two very closely related species, Lycium Barbarbium and L. Chinense, two species of boxthorn and in the family Solanaceae, (same family as tomato, potato, capsicum, eggplant, chilli, tobacco).

They are deciduous (lose their leaves in winter), woody Perennial plants and will grow anywhere from 1-3 metres high. L. Chinense is a slightly shorter growing plant than the Lycium Barbarium.

I have purchased a Lycium Barbarium variety and did not see the other variety for sale in the nursery, you may be able to find it online if you do some research, however as the plants are so closely related I don't think it would really matter which variety you buy.

The plant itself is very adaptable, it prefers climates that are hot and dry in summer but will grow just about anywhere, including humid climates. It will flourish in full sun except in really hot climates. It can also withstand heavy frosts, although growth is likely to be a little slower.

Goji plants like a well composted and well drained soil and can be grown in pots or in the garden. They will not grow huge in pots however because they stop growing once their roots hit the bottom of the pot, for this reason it is a good idea to pot in a deeper rather than wider pot.

The plant has thin canes and green lance shaped leaves. The flowers are white and purple, long thin green berries will form from these flowers (like Thai chillies). The berries will mature in summer to an orange colour and can be picked and eaten raw. The flavour is similar to a cranberry and they are packed full of nutrition.

Apparently it takes a few years before the plant will fruit so don't become impatient, you can use the leaves in salads in the meantime.

Nutritional Benefits:

The Goji berry is packed full of the following:

• 18 Amino acids
• 22 Trace minerals
• 6 Monosaccharides
• 8 Polysaccharides
• 5 Unsaturated fatty acids
• 11 essential minerals
• Antioxidants
• Vitamins A,C, E and 3 x B vitamins
• 4 Carotenoides
• Beta Carotene

Our Goji berry planted , have put lettuces around the base for a short term project as well!

Our New Zealand Garden

Why not plant things that you can eat.......

A great theory that I have been living by for a while, it not only looks good but has the added bonus of being edible!!

I pitched my thoughts to my Dad a few years ago and he loved idea and got on board at our house in Taylor's Mistake, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Each time I come home, I love wandering around the garden seeing how things are growing and eating my way around the garden, depending on the time of year I am home.

Here are some photos of our garden at Taylor's Mistake this trip home.....

Pepino - only planted about a month ago and growing well 

 As Taylor's is only a bach therefore not in use full time i have got dad in the habit of planting lettuces in pots, this way the family always has fresh lettuce to eat when they are here, these lettuces were planted about a month ago and  if you just pick of the outside leaves they will last around 3 months before they go to seed.
As you can see they grow really well in small pots and are a great thing to plant for those with little space for a garden!!! THERE IS NOTHING LIKE FRESHLY PICKED LETTUCE!!!

Lettuce growing in pots

Lavender bushes
(ok, i know u can't eat this but it smells good  and looks nice and the Lavender flowers have many uses!)

Black berry bush in flower and fruiting

Close up of Blackberries fruiting and in flower....so pretty!!!

Raspberry bush and small feijoa tree in flower

Close up of Raspberries fruiting

Gooseberries ripening

Gooseberry bush going crazy!

Third year Blueberry bushes fruiting well again this year

Third year Blueberry Plant, different variety to the above  plant

Olive tree in flower

Parsley in flower

Fig tree getting lost amongst the grasses

Mint growing wild

Feijoa flower

Chilean Guava in flower

Beans climbing up tamarillo trunk

Tamarillo tree nestled amongst the rocks

Rosemary and climbing beans providing some cover for the outdoor shower

Tomato - growing well only planted about a month  ago, ready for summer
(grows well in a pot too for those of you with little space)

Curry plant makes a good ground cover and smells awesome  too!

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN PLANT IN THE GARDEN THAT ARE NOT ONLY PRETTY BUT EDIBLE TOO, SO GET PLANTING!!

The View of Taylor's Mistake Bay from the top garden, my favourite spot to sit and eat breakfast!

Native trees are also prevalent in our Taylor's Mistake garden
Here is a Native Pohutukawa tree about to flower
The Pohutukawa is also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree

Pohutukawa flower

Happy Gardening!!!!!

Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse

 Ok, so while I have a freezer full of bananas and avocados are still a fairly reasonable price I thought it a good time to share one of my favourite quick and easy desserts with you all.......

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

1 frozen banana chopped into pieces

½ an avocado

1-2 teaspoons of RAW* cacao powder

1-2 teaspoons of RAW* cacao nibs (dash of organic soy milk, almond milk or organic cows milk can be used instead if you prefer)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender, only add enough milk to just mix all the ingredients, too much and you will end up with a runny dessert instead of a light fluffy mousse like texture.......

*

• Raw cacao is a superfood and has high levels of antioxidants, trace minerals, phyto-nutruients, vitamins, omegas, neurotransmitters and fiber.
• Contrary to popular opinion raw cacao is a poor source of caffeine. It is however rich in theobromine which is a close relative of caffeine without being a nervous system stimulant like cafffeine. Theobromines main function is to dilate the cardiovascular system making the hearts job easier.

When Theobromine is heated it converts into caffeine!!!!

• Beans used to make commercial chocolate are usually roasted but then are not raw as temperatures for roasting reach higher than 48 dg. Roasting decreases the antioxidant properties contained within the cacao by up to 50% it also destroys or damages the tryptophan which produces serotonin a major neurotransmitter. The high doses of vitamin C are also destroyed upon heating and the omegas go rancid and of course the theobromine converts into caffeine.
  Just a few good reasons to go Raw and organic with this product!!!

My latest Addiction

My latest Addiction.......

My latest addiction is coconut water...... straight from the coconut. Young coconuts are harvested between 6 and 9 months and at this age the contain about 2 cups of coconut water. The flesh is translucent, almost jelly like and is also delicious.

The coconut palm naturally filters water through its roots and trunk and ends up as purified water inside the coconut. It is filled with electrolytes, calcium, potassium, magnesium and only has around 17 calories per 100gms. It is great for re-hydration, I particularly crave one after a long surf session!!

The natural isotonic beverage almost has the same level of electrolyte balance as we have in our blood. It is one of the purest, most nutritious, wholesome waters that nature has provided us with.

Unless the coconut has been damaged, it is likely to be sterile. There have been cases in some developing countries where medical saline was not available, coconut water has been used as an intravenous hydration fluid.

Further to all this coconut water will help aid digestion, remove toxins from the body and also has amazing anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti microbial properties that help cure diseases.

In my local area they can be purchased for around $3 a coconut, you can get them a little cheaper than this if you buy them by the box.

I am currently in New Zealand and was surprised and stoked to find them at my local supermarket for around $4........ thank goodness I can still feed my addiction while I am away!!

Buy local!!!

Buy local!!!!

I live about 15 minutes inland from Byron Bay. In my immediate local area there are lots of little local roadside stalls selling fresh home grown produce that you can always find a bargin or two at.
 There is Jack, who I have affectionately nicknamed 'The $2 Man' and you guessed it, everything is $2, big bunches of farm fresh herbs and veges that you just know are going to tasted amazing and value for money that I just can't find ANYWHERE else.
 Mrs Singh on the highway is always good for a bargin too and as a regular customer of hers I can never come away with just what I have bought, she always sneaks a bunch of bananas or an extra apple or 2 into my bags.....again, cheap, fresh, home grown produce. Then there are the bunch of stalls on which I call 'the strip', one of my favourites is so super cheap that I wonder how they make any money at all, this is one of my favourites and I slow past it every day on my way home to see what bargins they are offering.

Here is what I found today …........

All these bananas cost me $2, there were huge bunches for sale for 50cents a bunch, (fantastic value, our bananas have been very expensive in Australia for a while now because of the floods in Queensland). I grabbed 4 bunches, which filled an entire shopping bag!!!!

What am i gonna do with all these bananas i hear you asking...............I peeled them and put them into zip lock bags and have replenished my freezer supply for smoothies and muffins and what ever else i think i would like to create!!!! 

Bananas peeled and ready to go into the freezer